42 INSPIRING MAKERS, ONE BOOK AT A TIME Clare Martelli, Editorial Director at Herbert Press, talks to Craft Focus about the art of creating craft books that are as practical as they are beautiful Tell us a little bit about the company. Where are you based? When did the company start? Herbert Press has been publishing beautiful and practical crafting books for makers of all levels since 1976. We specialise in ceramics, textiles, printmaking, painting and jewellery, but also publish titles in other areas. Our offices are in London, Oxford and New York. Who founded the company and why? Herbert Press was founded in 1976 by David Herbert and his wife Brenda Swann, initially operating from the dining room of their home in Hampstead. David Herbert was a leading publisher of his time who was passionate about creating highquality, visually attractive books, many of them of educational value. Herbert believed in the value of nurturing authors and those whose skills helped him to fulfil his own creative ideas: to him people mattered more than anything else. How has the company evolved? Herbert Press was acquired by A&C Black in 1995 and is now an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing. Being part of a leading international publisher has given us the best of both worlds. As a specialist imprint, we’re still able to provide the same close-knit care for our authors and subjects, but we benefit from Bloomsbury’s global distribution network as well as world-leading production, digital and marketing teams. However, our original goal remains: to make gorgeous, top-quality books that are packed with expert content, beautifully designed, and a real pleasure to hold. What do you specialise in? We specialise in producing craft books that are both deeply practical and absolutely beautiful to look at. Our books are aimed at makers from a range of levels and backgrounds, from students and hobbyists to more experienced craftspeople. From stained glass to printmaking, our books have projects to follow, as well as inspiration and information to help makers get started with producing their own designs.
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